Comparative Study of Health-related QOL and Psychological Status among Type 1 Diabetes Patients with Pancreas/Kidney or Kidney Transplantation and on a Waiting List

Abstract

We evaluated health-related quality of life (QOL) and psychological status such as depression and anxiety in those with type 1 diabetes including simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) (n=5), kidney transplantation alone (KTA) (n=5), and on a waiting list (WL) for pancreas/kidney transplantation (n=20). We administered a questionnaire using Short Form-36 (SF-36 v2) and the Hospital Anxiety, and Depression Scale (HADS). Compared to those with KTA and WL patients, physical functioning in SF-36, general health perception, vitality, and emotional and physical role components scores of those with SPK were significantly higher. SPK scores ranged from 46 to 55 points, similar to the Japanese national standard range. Most with SPK had good psychological status indicated by negative cutoff points for depression and anxiety.
These results confirm the good quality of health-related QOL in those with SPK and suggest the need for routine QOL assessment and mental care for those with KTA and WL to improve health-related QOL.